Tuscarora sewage plant tabled until June 5 meeting

Tuesday

May 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A request to allow a sewage treatment plant in Tuscarora Township that would be part of a new sewer system for Indian River has been tabled until the Cheboygan County Planning Commission’s June 5 meeting.

By Shawna Jankoviakshawna@cheboygantribune.com

A request to allow a sewage treatment plant in Tuscarora Township that would be part of a new sewer system for Indian River has been tabled until the Cheboygan County Planning Commission’s June 5 meeting.The request has been tabled several times starting back in March, as township officials said they needed more time to obtain further information.“Our engineering firm, Gourdie-Fraser, is still waiting to hear from the DEQ on a variance for the isolation zone and we are working out details with property owners to provide water service in the event that the variance is not granted,” according to an e-mail from Tuscarora Township received just prior to the April 3 Planning Commission meeting.Several audience members have attended each meeting the request was to be heard at, and have expressed concerns about the treatment plant’s location and the overall sewer project.The plant is be located on Brudy Road in Tuscarora Township, near the township’s industrial park. The proposed property is zoned as a Light Industrial Development District, in which this use is allowed by special use permit.Plans for the plant include a building for filtering operations, three or four open lagoons and one permanent employee. The site will be fenced in, and an area has been reserved for potential expansion if need be in the future. Additional setbacks and requirements will be required by the District No. 4 Health Department and the Michigan DEQ.The project is part of Tuscarora Township’s plans to install a more than $4 million sewer system. The project is to be funded with a USDA/Rural Development $2.6 million loan and a $1.5 million grant. However, the loan will be paid through a special assessment district, so residents and businesses that fall within its boundaries will be required to pay, which has been the subject of some controversy.Paula Paolino, who owns Paula’s Cafe in Indian River, has spoken at past meetings and has said the proposed plant would be located near a former garbage dump. She also commented that the application was misleading about the number of employees and funding arrangements. Others have cited concerns about the project’s cost and the site of the proposed treatment plant.Staff of the Planning Department has said the project’s engineer is planning to attend the meeting when the issue is considered.The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, however, and will hear a special use permit amendment request for a lodge structure at a hunting club. The property is located on Carlson Road in Inverness Township and includes both the Lake and Stream Protection zoning district and the Agriculture and Forestry Management zoning district.In other business, the Planning Commission:• Will discuss the Master Plan, including draft goals and objectives.• Will hear presentations on proposed projects for the 2014 Capital Improvement Plan, from Cheboygan County Council on Aging Director Mike Bur and Forest Township Supervisor Tim Paulus.• Will review a proposed amendment to Planning Commission bylaws regarding applicant requests to adjourn consideration of an application.The meeting will take place in room 135 of the Cheboygan County Building.